WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW: LOCAL SQUADS GET READY TO GO DANCING UCLA, USC, PEPPERDINE GET BIDS IN NCAA TOURNAMENT.Byline: Ramona Shelburne Ramona Shelburne is an American sports journalist currently writing for the Los Angeles Daily News. Shelburne was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California where she was a class valedictorian. Staff Writer Noelle Quinn Noelle Quinn (born January 3, 1985 in Los Angeles, California) is a professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the Minnesota Lynx. Quinn attended college at UCLA and graduated in 2007. had barely filled her plate with food, Lisa Willis Lisa Willis (born June 13 1984) is a professional basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the Los Angeles Sparks. Willis attended college at UCLA and graduated in 2006. had just sat down and Nikki Blue Nikki Blue was a WNBA basketball player from 2006-2006. She played in 24 games and played for the Washington Mystics. Nikki attended West High in Bakersfield, California and later went on to play for UCLA. was running a little late. Truth be told, most of the UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX women's basketball Women's basketball is one of the few games which developed in tandem with men's. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast, in large part via women's colleges. team wasn't even paying that close of attention when its name flashed across the screen as the No. 5 seed in the Cleveland Regional of the NCAA Tournament NCAA Tournament can mean: Men's Sports
``I had to take care of a couple things at home after practice so I was a little late. I didn't think we were going up so quickly,'' said Blue, UCLA's senior point guard. ``I walked up and someone told me who we were playing.'' Better late than never. UCLA, with its senior-laden team and three All- American candidates, has waited a while for this collection of talent to gel. Two weeks ago, it appeared the chemistry was finally right as the Bruins upset No. 11 Arizona State and No. 13 Stanford on the way to the Pacific-10 Conference Tournament. ``We're playing really well now. The chemistry and camaraderie is great,'' said junior guard Noelle Quinn, the team's leading scorer. ``This year, we were lucky enough not to have any serious injuries before the tournament. ``We really want to get it done. Especially for the seniors (Blue and Lisa Willis) who've put so much into this program. They could've gone anywhere in the country. So I'm just proud we have an opportunity now, in their last year, to show what we can do.'' UCLA (20-10), which climbed into both national polls on Monday - No. 21 in the Associated Press poll, No. 23 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' poll - was seeded fifth in the Cleveland Regional. It will open against No. 12 Bowling Green (28-2), the Mid-American Conference champion, at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in West Lafayette, Ind. The Bruins haven't won an NCAA tournament game since 1999, when they advanced to the Elite Eight. After their late-season run, many believe they have the talent for that kind of run again. But it will be difficult with in the Cleveland Regional with a potential second-round game against No. 4 seed Purdue on its home court, and a Sweet 16 matchup against No. 1 overall seed, North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. . UCLA's No. 5 seeding was the highlight of a banner day for area teams and the Pac-10. It was the first time since 1992 that USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. and UCLA have made the NCAA tournament in the same season. The Pac-10 was awarded six berths in the NCAA tournament. Most surprising was California (18-10), which earned the 10th seed in the Albuquerque Regional. USC (18-11), is the No. 8 seed in the Bridgeport Regional against No. 9 seed South Florida (19-11), Saturday in Norfolk, Va. It is USC's second No. 8 seed in two years. Last year, the Trojans beat No. 9 Louisville in the first round and nearly upset top-seeded Michigan State in the second round. For the Trojans to even be in the NCAA Tournament this year is an accomplishment. USC lost two of its starters midway through the season to hip injuries, and another, forward Allison Jaskowiak, suffered a knee injury in the season finale that hampered her in the Pac-10 Tournament last week. ``It's our kids,'' USC coach Mark Trakh said. ``We easily could've been 10-18 with all the injuries we've had and where we've been. ...No matter what we do, I think this is good for our program. The USC-South Florida winner will face top-seeded Duke (26-3) or No. 16 seed Southern (20-10) next Tuesday. Pepperdine (14-16), which made a Cinderella run to win the West Coast Conference Tournament two weeks ago, was a somewhat surprising 15th-seed in the San Antonio Regional. Most observers thought the Waves would be a No. 16 seed because of their losing record, but their 8-2 finish to the year, combined with the strength of the WCC WCC n abbr (= World Council of Churches) → COE m (Conseil œcuménique des Églises) WCC n abbr (= World Council of Churches) → Weltkirchenrat m , propelled them up one spot. Pepperdine opens against Big 12 Conference champion, No. 2 seed Oklahoma (29-4) and its National Player of the Year Candidate, freshman Courtney Paris, Saturday morning at 10 in Denver. Ramona Shelburne, (818) 713-3617 ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): box Box: 2006 NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's basketball championship AP |
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